Is There Effective Medication For Asperger’s?

Asperger
syndrome
is
a
developmental
disorder
that
affects
the
structure
and
function
of
the
brain.
Children
and
adults
with
Asperger's
have
difficulty
with
social
interactions,
establishing
and
maintaining
peer
relationships,
and
processing
sensory
stimuli.
While
Asperger's
is
often
diagnosed
during
childhood,
as
more
awareness
is
being
spread
about
autism
spectrum
disorders,
more
adults
are
receiving
an
Asperger
syndrome
diagnosis.

Source:
pixabay.com

Managing
Asperger's
can
sometimes
be
a
struggle
and
takes
a
multidisciplinary
approach.
If
you're
currently
establishing
treatment,
you
may
be
wondering
if
medication
for
Asperger's
is
an
option.
Many
children
and
adults
with
Asperger's
take
some
kind
of
medication
as
a
part
of
their
care.
In
a
2013
study
of
children
on
the
autism
spectrum,
64%
used
psychotropic
medication,
and
35%
were
on
more
than
one
at
the
same
time.

The
neurochemistry
and
nervous
systems
of
people
with
autism
spectrum
disorders
may
be
more
sensitive
to
medications,
in
ways
that
are
not
completely
known
yet.
In
general,
medications
must
be
tailored
to
the
individual's
needs
and
response.
All
medications
must
be
monitored
closely
for
side
effects
and
adjusted
accordingly.

The
choice
to
involve
medication
in
you
or
your
child's
treatment
is
a
personal
decision
that
should
be
made
after
educating
yourself
about
the
benefits
and
risks.
Behavioral
interventions
and
therapy
should
always
be
the
first
line
of
treatment,
but
medication
can
be
a
helpful
adjunct
for
certain
patients.
It's
crucial
to
find
a
doctor
that
is
experienced
in
prescribing
medication
to
individuals
on
the
spectrum
and
up-to-date
on
the
latest
research.

Some
people
prefer
to
avoid
medication
altogether
in
favor
of
alternative
treatments.
It's
also
just
as
valid
to
explore
whether
or
not
medications
can
assist
you.
Educate
yourself,
speak
to
your
doctor,
and
weigh
the
pros
and
cons,
and
then
decide
whether
or
not
pursuing
medication
is
right
for
you
or
your
child.

What
Medications
Are
Available
For
Asperger's?

There
are
only
two
medications
approved
by
the
FDA
to
treat
behavioral
issues
in
patients
with
ASD:
the
antipsychotics
aripiprazole
and
risperidone.
There
are
no
other
medications
currently
available
to
treat
the
core
symptoms
of
Asperger's,
such
as
socialization
and
communication
difficulties.
We're
still
learning
about
the
exact
cause
of
autism
spectrum
disorders
and
how
the
brains
of
those
born
with
these
conditions
function.
Preliminary
research
has
suggested
differences
in
the
amygdala,
prefrontal
cortex,
and
other
brain
structures.

Despite
this,
medications
are
frequently
prescribed
for
comorbid
conditions,
such
as
ADHD,
anxiety,
and
depression.
Treating
these
conditions
allows
for
more
effective
management
of
the
central
symptoms
and
may
even
reduce
their
impacts,
such
as
increasing
sociality
and
reducing
repetitive
behaviors
and
obsessive
thoughts.

The
following
three
classes
of
medication
are
those
most
commonly
prescribed
for
patients
with
Asperger's
and
other
ASDs.
This
includes
Asperger
syndrome
in
adults
and
children.

Source:
philly.com

Atypical
Antipsychotics

Atypical
antipsychotics
were
developed
to
treat
certain
mood
and
mental
disorders
such
as
schizophrenia
and
bipolar
disorder
while
reducing
the
risk
of
side
effects
compared
to
first-generation
antipsychotics.
As
previously
mentioned,
two
antipsychotics
are
the
only
ones
specifically
approved
for
treating
ASD
symptoms,
specifically,
irritability,
aggression,
and
self-injury.
Research
has
shown
this
class
of
drugs
to
be
fairly
effective
at
treating
these
symptoms
in
up
to
50%
of
cases.

Atypical
antipsychotics
are
thought
to
work
by
blocking
certain
types
of
dopamine
receptors
in
the
brain
that
can
contribute
to
negative
symptoms.
Depending
on
the
mechanism
of
action
for
each
particular
drug
under
this
umbrella,
there
may
be
other
effects.
While
the
risk
of
side
effects
is
lower
than
with
first-generation
antipsychotics,
it
is
still
present.
These
adverse
effects
include
weight
gain,
movement
disorders,
and
fatigue,
and
the
chance
of
developing
one
or
more
of
these
issues
gets
higher
as
the
dose
increases.

Therefore,
as
with
any
medication,
antipsychotics
should
be
prescribed
with
caution
and
maintained
at
the
lowest
possible
effective
dose.

Selective
Serotonin
Reuptake
Inhibitors
(SSRIs)

SSRIs
have
been
some
of
the
most
commonly
prescribed
medications
for
patients
on
the
autism
spectrum
for
decades.
These
medications
have
been
shown
to
be
effective
for
depression
and
anxiety,
common
conditions
among
patients
with
Asperger's.
anxiety,
in
particular,
can
be
crippling,
especially
for
those
diagnosed
later
in
life.
Untreated,
these
conditions
may
develop
into
a
barrier
that
leaves
the
individual
feeling
chronically
stuck,
isolated,
and
unhappy.

SSRIs
include
Paxil,
Prozac,
and
citalopram,
among
others,
and
work
by
preventing
the
reuptake
of
the
neurotransmitter
serotonin
in
the
brain.
Research
has
shown
SSRIs
may
help
to
regulate
mood,
reduce
repetitive
behaviors,
and
increase
socialization
to
a
certain
extent.

While
SSRIs
can
be
very
effective
for
some
people,
that's
not
the
case
for
others.
As
with
any
medication,
there's
also
a
risk
of
side
effects,
including
headaches,
nausea,
and
restlessness.
More
significant
cases
of
autism
spectrum
disorder
may
not
benefit
from
SSRI
treatment.

Stimulants

Asperger's
and
ADHD
have
a
strong
association,
as
ADHD
is
present
in
as
many
as
50-80%
of
children
and
adults
on
the
spectrum.
This
layer
of
symptoms,
including
hyperactivity,
difficulty
focusing,
and
impulse
control
issues,
can
create
additional
difficulty
when
attempting
to
treat
the
core
symptoms
of
Asperger's
itself.
Stimulant
medication
has
shown
to
be
extremely
effective
in
reducing
and
controlling
ADHD
symptoms.

Stimulants
fall
into
two
main
categories:
methylphenidates
(Ritalin,
Concerta)
and
amphetamines
(Adderall,
Vyvanse).
Both
work
to
treat
ADHD
symptoms
by
increasing
the
amount
of
dopamine
and
norepinephrine
available
in
the
prefrontal
cortex,
the
area
of
the
brain
responsible
for
executive
functioning.

Some
people,
particularly
children,
may
be
sensitive
to
the
risk
of
side
effects
with
stimulants
and
should
be
monitored
closely.
Side
effects
could
include
an
increase
in
hyperactivity
and
motor
tics.
These
almost
always
stop
when
the
medication
is
eliminated,
so
there
is
a
very
low
risk
when
trialing
these
medications.

Source:
en.wikipedia.org

Getting
Started
With
Medications

Before
you
or
your
child
begins
any
medication,
you
and
the
doctor
should
establish
clear
goals
and
expectations
for
treatment.
It's
important
to
have
realistic
expectations
for
what
each
medication
can
do.
Determine
what
symptoms
you're
hoping
to
reduce
or
eliminate
and
establish
a
baseline
before
you
begin.
Do
you
want
to
decrease
anxiety?
Improve
hyperactivity?
Reduce
repetitive
behaviors?
Clearly
outline
the
symptoms
you're
targeting
and
understand
how
the
medication
is
supposed
to
treat
them.
Be
realistic
and
specific.

Monitor
progress
throughout
the
initial
treatment
phase
so
that
you
can
be
sure
you're
seeing
the
response
you're
aiming
for.
You
may
find
it
helpful
to
track
this
information
on
your
phone
or
in
a
notebook.
Be
sure
to
share
your
findings
with
the
doctor
and
any
other
members
of
the
medical
team.

Familiarize
yourself
with
the
potential
side
effects
of
any
new
medication.
If
you
notice
any
of
these
or
other
new
symptoms,
contact
the
doctor's
office
right
away.
The
dosage
may
need
to
be
reduced,
or
the
medication
changed
for
an
alternate
option.
Never
stop
the
medication
abruptly
unless
instructed
to
do
so,
especially
if
the
medication
has
been
given
for
an
extended
period.

Every
brain
is
different,
and
much
of
how
medications
affect
the
brain
is
still
unknown.
Pharmacology
should
never
be
a
one-size-fits-all
approach.
Medication
needs
to
be
personalized
for
the
individual
and
carefully
dialed
in
for
optimum
results.

It
can
take
time
and
patience
to
find
the
right
medication
or
combination
of
medications
and
requires
persistence.
Even
if
medications
turn
out
to
be
ineffective,
there
are
many
other
options
for
managing
symptoms
effectively.

What
Other
Treatments
Are
Available?

Despite
the
use
of
words
like
"treatment"
and
"symptom,"
autism
spectrum
disorders
aren't
diseases
that
need
to
be
cured.
Instead,
they
are
differences
in
the
neurological
wiring
of
the
brain,
conditions
that
require
management
and
adjustment.
People
with
Asperger's
who
are
given
sufficient
support
and
guidance
can
go
on
to
lead
extremely
successful
and
happy
lives.
They
just
need
the
right
environment
and
scaffolding
to
support
them
on
their
way.

The
medication
works
best
as
one
tool
in
an
overall
treatment
plan
that
addresses
social
skills
training,
sensory
integration,
behavioral
modification,
and
motor
coordination.
The
best
strategy
is
to
take
into
account
each's
strengths
and
areas
of
difficulty
and
tailor
a
plan
carefully
to
meet
his
or
her
needs.

Cognitive
behavioral
therapy
(CBT)
has
been
shown
to
be
extremely
effective
for
patients
with
Asperger's.
A
therapist
can
teach
techniques
for
regulating
and
processing
emotions,
developing
structure,
and
reducing
obsessive
thoughts.
As
most
people
with
Asperger's
tend
to
have
difficulty
understanding
how
to
process
social
cues,
a
skilled
therapist
can
teach
techniques
for
relying
on
logic
and
reasoning
to
better
interact
socially.
There
is
also
occupational
therapy
and
sensory
integration
therapy
to
help
manage
any
potential
areas
of
concern.

Source:
commons.wikimedia.org

Seeking
Therapy

A
therapist
that
specializes
in
ASD
can
help
you
better
understand
yourself
and
the
way
you
think,
as
well
as
help
you
cope
with
any
anxiety
or
depression
you
may
be
experiencing.
BetterHelp
can
connect
you
with
a
therapist
that
will
be
able
to
guide
you
through
the
process
of
better
controlling
and
managing
your
condition.
Even
if
you're
a
parent
of
a
child
with
Asperger's,
you
may
find
it
beneficial
to
have
support
for
yourself.

New
information
about
autism
spectrum
disorders
is
being
discovered
all
the
time.
The
more
you
understand
you
or
your
child's
condition
and
the
available
treatments,
the
more
empowered
you
will
feel
in
managing
it
appropriately.

The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional. For more information, please read our terms of use.

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